Environmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2019 Jan;187(1):41-50. doi: 10.1007/s12011-018-1357-3. Epub 2018 Apr 26.
A trend toward the use of traditional and herbal medicines has developed nowadays, and there is a growing concern regarding them being polluted with heavy metals. This study measured the heavy metal concentrations in eight different types of medicinal herbs and eight different types of herbal distillates sold in the markets in Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran. The concentration of some metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Al, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Mg) was quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the associated health risk for adults and children was estimated. The mean concentration of all the metals was within the permissible limits set by the WHO. The medicinal herbs contained significantly more Al, As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn (p < 0.02) than the herbal distillates. However, the concentrations of Cu and Hg were higher in the herbal distillates. The non-carcinogenic risks of consumption of traditional medicines in adults and children were assessed based on the target hazard quotients (THQs). The THQs for individual metals (except Al and Cr) from individual herbs were less than 1, which is considered as safe for human consumption.
如今，人们倾向于使用传统草药和草药制剂，而这些产品可能受到重金属污染的问题也引起了人们越来越多的关注。本研究对伊朗库尔德斯坦省萨南达杰市市场上销售的 8 种不同类型的草药和 8 种不同类型的草药浸剂中的重金属浓度进行了测量。采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对部分金属（Cd、Cu、Mn、Fe、Zn、Al、Co、Ni、Cr、Pb 和 Mg）的浓度进行了定量分析，并评估了其对成人和儿童的健康风险。所有金属的平均浓度均在世界卫生组织（WHO）规定的允许范围内。与草药浸剂相比，草药中 Al、As、Cd、Cr、Fe、Mn、Ni、Pb 和 Zn 的含量显著更高（p<0.02）。然而，草药浸剂中 Cu 和 Hg 的浓度更高。根据目标危害系数（THQ）评估了成人和儿童食用传统药物的非致癌风险。个别草药中个别金属（Al 和 Cr 除外）的 THQ 小于 1，被认为对人类食用是安全的。
